About the Council

The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the Atlantic Community’s central role in meeting global challenges. The Council provides an essential forum for navigating the dramatic economic and political changes defining the twenty-first century by informing and galvanizing its uniquely influential network of global leaders. Through the papers we write, the ideas we generate, and the communities we build, the Council shapes policy choices and strategies to create a more secure and prosperous world.

NATO 20/2020

Twenty bold ideas to reimagine the Alliance after the 2020 US election

More than two decades after NATO’s inspired decision to invite former adversaries to join its ranks, the Alliance is in need of equally captivating ideas. The essays in this volume are intended to push the Alliance to think boldly and creatively in the service of recapturing the public’s imagination.

Read our provocative essays on the future of NATO

Explore the podcast series

Making a difference

Learn more about the Atlantic Council’s insights & impact through these stories of how our regional and thematic programs are making a difference not only in shaping how we view global issues but also in shaping their outcome.

Latest commentary and analysis

Econographics

Jun 19, 2026

Central banks can’t afford to keep missing their inflation targets

By Jack Muldoon

While the Iran war explains the sudden rise in inflation, relying on this excuse obscures that there is potentially a long-term problem central banks will need to confront as they manage the long tail of this crisis.

Economy & Business Macroeconomics

UkraineAlert

Jun 18, 2026

Putin’s obsession with ‘denazifying’ Ukraine makes peace impossible

By Peter Dickinson

Putin’s obsession with “denazifying” Ukraine makes a mockery of efforts to portray the Russian invasion as a mere land grab and helps explain why there has been no meaningful progress toward peace despite more than a year of US-led efforts, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

Podcast

Jun 18, 2026

“Shoot everybody”: US contractors in San Diego court

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 16 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Daniel McLaughlin, an international lawyer and Legal Director of the Centre for Justice and Accountability (CJA), a California-based legal nonprofit working on behalf of victims of torture and other atrocity crimes. Daniel and CJA are leading a civil suit in San Diego against a Delaware-registered PMC, Spear Operations Group, for war crimes in Yemen. They represent the Yemeni parliamentarian Anssaf Ali Mayo, who was one of the targets of an alleged hit-squad in Yemen. Daniel talks us through the facts of the case, how it ended up in a California courtroom ten years later, and which US and international laws were ostensibly broken by the PMC. He also argues forcefully that the US government has a duty to regulate how former members of its military use their training and know-how.

Middle East Rule of Law

Latest in-depth research and reports

Content

In the News

May 19, 2023

Lipsky quoted in CNN on Zelenskyy’s visit to the G7 summit

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business

In the News

May 19, 2023

Deni in Foreign Policy on Ukraine and its place in NATO

By John R. Deni

On May 19, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow John R. Deni wrote an op-ed in Foreign Policy, discussing the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Hybrid Conflict Project

May 19, 2023

Starling joins Irregular Warfare Initiative podcast to discuss gray zone conflict

By Atlantic Council

Clementine Starling explains how the gray zone fits into US policy making and doctrine.

Australia China

In the News

May 19, 2023

Imai on POLITICO

On May 19, Kyoko Imai was quoted in Politico regarding the ongoing G7 summit. Imai explains, “The existing nuclear security architecture is being shaken.” She adds that, “The war in Ukraine has clearly shown that regional crises have global ramifications.”

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

In the News

May 19, 2023

Quirk in Just Security on adapting the US strategy towards hybrid regimes

On May 17, Scowcroft Strategy Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Patrick Quirk co-authored a piece for Just Security on the importance of developing a US strategy towards hybrid regimes that promotes US interests whilst remaining steadfast in the US' commitments to democratic values.

Africa Americas

In the News

May 18, 2023

Webster mentioned in Mississippi State University article on wartime supply chains and munitions

Energy & Environment

In the News

May 18, 2023

Cynkin in The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and Nikkei Asia

On May 17, IPSI Nonresident Senior Fellow Tom Cynkin was featured in Nikkei Asia and Politico, both regarding the G-7 summit. In Politico, he discusses the potential for a joint statement denouncing political coercion, explaining, “The question is how far can the Europeans be nudged towards something that’s stronger, that has more teeth as a […]

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

May 18, 2023

Donovan quoted in VOA on Russia sanctions enforcement

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

May 17, 2023

Vershbow in Altinget discussing three priorities for NATO’s Vilnius summit

By Alexander Vershbow

On May 17, Transatlantic Security Initiative distinguished fellow Alexander Vershbow was quoted in Altinget discussing three priorities for NATO’s Vilnius summit (in Swedish). 

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 17, 2023

Global China Hub deputy director Colleen Cottle quoted in Nikkei Asia on what China is watching during the G7 Summit

On May 17, 2023, Global China Hub deputy director Colleen Cottle was quoted in Nikkei Asia, providing insights on what signs China will be watching for during the G7 Summit, particularly as it pertains to the US trying to bring Japan and Europe on board with its campaign against China’s “economic coercion.” “China doesn’t want […]

China Economy & Business